My son needs a backpacking sleeping bag for his Philmont trek next summer. He actually needs it by the end of this month because they are starting their training hikes.

I did a search for best backpacking sleeping bags, and most of them are $300-$500. Needless to say, I don't want to spend that much. But I also don't want to be cheap and buy him something that is too bulky and heavy.

Any recommendations that won't break the bank? Can we even do this for $150 or less? I'm definitely open to suggestions for discontinued/outlet models. Kiddo is 5'10 and 170 lbs, but could very well be 6' by next June. TIA.

I bought two Marmot NanoWave55 bags for Northern Tier this summer. Worked great in temps into the low 50s to high 40s. Very compact and lightweight. Think they were around $65 each on Moosejaw.

These are on sale right now. I have Mountain Hardwear bags and they've always been good for me. I think it would work great for Philmont. When I worked out there, I had an old Kelty 32 degree bag and never had any issues.

Mountain Hardwear Lamina Z

REI Coop Ambient

I used the same Slumberjack for 6 summers out there. I might have spent $100. When I go out there in 2 weeks, I'll be taking the now 22 year old bag.

It started as a -10 bag, and is now pretty comfortable in the 30's.

Sleepingbags have come a long way since then.

What kind of shape is Philmont going to be in next summer? I was there July/August and it was sad. Devastated to drive past.

But its been getting some rain

It is going to be rough. I will have a better answer in a couple weeks. I'm going out there for the Hornaday/conservation training. The guy in charge of the overall conservation plan (rebuild and trail construction) is one of my old teammates from the '02 fire rehab team. The catch with this fire is that it is in a logistically terrible spot. I plan on having a full report on here at the end of Sept.

The staff this summer worked their collective a-- off this summer protecting critical slopes and watersheds.

Keep in mind, many of the areas that burned in 2002 are just now starting to grow scrub oak. The drowning of Alden Brock in 2015 was still related to the '02 fire. The effects will be felt for a LONG time.

You def shouldn't have to spend more than $300 on a sleeping bag for a philmont trip in the summer. I'd check backcountry.com as they often have sales

Kelty Cosmic 40 hands down my favorite. Mine has been on just about every Scout campout above 35 degrees, deer lease and quail lease trips for past 8 years. Been to Philmont twice and Northern Tier twice. Cost is less than $100. Two of my boys and I each have one in a compression bag.

Pro Tip: Put a small white kitchen trash bag inside the compression bag and then stuff sleeping bag in with sleep clothes on top. Keeps sleeping bag and sleep clothes dry.

I went in 1959 with my less than $20 bag and froze my butt off. No pad to put under the bag.

We got a 50 mile hike in that June.

Best summer of my youth.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I bought him an almost-brand-new North Face Aleutian off the classifieds board a few months back. But he says it's too big/bulky. Is that correct? I have no issue buying a new bag as long as the one he has really isn't an appropriate choice.

Please report back what you find out about conditions at the camp.

When I was a ranger, I just used a $10 blanket and wrapped up in it

You can use a compression stuff sack to get a smaller size.

What kind of pack is he using? If it's external, not as big of a deal. Internal, it'll probably take up too much space if not compressed.

If it's the North Face Aleutian I found online at 16 l size, you can pry find something smaller that'll suffice. 20 bag isn't necessary for Philmont summer

Pro Sandy said:

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You can use a compression stuff sack to get a smaller size.

What kind of pack is he using? If it's external, not as big of a deal. Internal, it'll probably take up too much space if not compressed.

If it's the North Face Aleutian I found online at 16 l size, you can pry find something smaller that'll suffice. 20 bag isn't necessary for Philmont summer

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Don't have a pack, yet. I'm taking him to get fitted for that and hiking boots this weekend. He's a big/hard to fit kid, so I'm assuming our choices will be limited by what fits and is comfortable for him. We have a little bit more flexibility with a sleeping bag.

I spent 150 on a Big Agnes bag that served me perfectly for a month hiking in Colorado. You should not need to spend more than 200.